SouthSouthNorth (SSN) is pleased to share news of the imminent launch of a small grants programme  supporting biodiversity restoration of the Cape fynbos biome in the Hessequa Municipality of the Western Cape, South Africa. 

The initiative, which is supported by Germany’s IKI Small Grants programme, will strengthen locally led, collaborative and innovative approaches to the removal and management of alien invasive plant species, and the restoration of indigenous fynbos ecosystems. The programme has a particular focus on Rooikrans and other woody invasive species that threaten the Cape Floristic Region.     

A core objective of the project is to develop a viable and sustainable business model for ongoing restoration activities. This will be achieved by strengthening collaboration between public and private-sector actors, enabling local capacity development of SMMEs (with a particular emphasis on women-led enterprises), and creating value from cleared biomass. 

The Hessequa Municipal area, home to the Cape Limestone Fynbos ecosystem, is a highly biodiverse yet vulnerable landscape of global significance. Through this programme, SSN will support locally active NGOs, CBOs and aligned SMMEs involved in invasive plant clearing, maintenance and restoration, as well as those working on the beneficiation of biomass through the production of products including but not limited to firewood, wood chips, compost, eco-briquettes, and biochar. 

SSN will support initiatives that demonstrate innovative and sustainable approaches through grants and capacity development. 

An upcoming Call for Proposals will spell out detailed criteria and invite eligible applicants to apply through a competitive process; aimed at co-creating a viable ecosystem of actors working to address the challenge of woody alien invasive species in a defined landscape in the region. 

If you would like to receive project updates and be notified when the Call for Proposals is launched, please email the Small Grants Manager, Rebecca Henderson (rebecca.henderson@oldssn.devcorner.co.za), to be added to the project mailing list; providing  

• Full Name 

• Organisation/Entity 

• Nature of Entity (i.e. Individual, NGO, Pvt Company) 

• Role 

• Email 

• Contact Number 

We encourage interested organisations to track SNN’s website news page for further announcements and keep an eye out for the new project page coming soon, which will include detailed information on application criteria. 

This project is supported by the IKI Small Grants Programme strengthening local solutions for effective climate and biodiversity action. IKI Small Grants is part of Germany’s International Climate Initiative (IKI). It is funded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety and run by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit  (GIZ) GmbH